Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-04
FIELD AND FARM.
Pleasure and Profit In Gard enin

be only very small plot or larger area
the advantages derived depend upon the
skill, care and labor of the person who
has charge of it. 1t is true, that while
those who cultivate hundreds Of acres OF
truck" can produce vegetables much
more cheaply than can those whose plots
are too small to permit of the use of i'm.
proved implements, the gardener who
grows his vegetables for home use Sc.
cures freshness and quality that cannot
be obtained with vegetables that are pur.
chased There is quite di ference be.
tween the pulling of ripe tomato from
the vine and placing it on the table and
the selection Of one from basket that
has been shipped ovei a distance OF rail,
and which may have been taken from
the vines two or three days before.
But there is also another advantage in
family gardening other than the fresh
ness and quality of the small fruits and
vegetables grown, which is the choice of
varieties. Two or three kinds of squash,
several of peas, as well as different varie-
ties of beets, beans, berries, and even of
melons. if space allow of their growth,
will permit of catering to the preferences
of every member of the family. With
selection of varieties come proper care
and ludicious working with the hoe, and
it is in this manner that the younger
members are taught their first lessons in
practical agriculture. 1t is said that the
boy who works on a farm where his du-
ties call for milking the cows, blowing
the fields and cultvating the crops, does
not have that fondness for farm life that
is peculiar to the one who is gwen
small garden and early taught 20 take an
interest IN it,
1t is often the case that ladies are bene.
fitted by light work in the garden, and
especially if they are Interested in OBJ
serving the different stages of growth of
the plants, and when the farmers wife
and the children also become interested,
the cost of the labor may be, really con.
sldercd as nothing. while the saving of
doctors bill and the enjoyment of the
garden luXurles more than compensate
for the care bestowed. If every farmer
would have a garden and take an inter-
est in it it would greatly add to the COM
fort and enjoyment of farming, as well as
prove very profitable.
Seasonable Suggestions and Hints.
Peas may be fastened by sprouting the
seed IN a box of moist sand before plant
ing.
Cucumbers, when cultivated during the
winter, require temperature of seventy
degrees during the night and eighty de-
grees during the day.
To bcautity the plumage of fowls feed
the seeds of sunilowers. II these cannot
be obtained give small quantity OF
ilaxseed occasionally.
Make your hot bed frames in sections,
so that they can be slowed away when
not in use. 1t is much better than allow
ing them to remain on the ground to be-
come useless.
1t is an easy matter to have garden
so arranged as to cultivate 1t with
horse hoe, but the best results are usu-
ally obtained on small plots well ma
nured and worked by h and.
u Never use whitewash in the stables or
hen houses unless carbolic acid is added
to it, as single application of the mix.
ture is better than two or three applica-
tons of whitewash alone.
The silver maple is rapid growing
tree, often attaining diameter OF ten
inches in ten years. 1t also thrives well
on sandy soil, requires but little care, and
has few insect enemies.
Squash, cucumbers, gg.plants, melons
and beans should not be planted until all
danger of frost is over and the ground
we'll warmed. Nothing is gained by at
tempting to force them in cool weather.
Cattle should not be permitted to feed
on clover land in the early spring. as the
crop will hardly be able to develop in full
vigor If this be done. Neither should
stock be permitted to Craze on it late in
the autumn, as this renders it very liable
TO winter killing.
Do not expect the hens to lay when they
are compelled to roost on trees. They
cannot endure severe cold and prove
productive. 1t is only with the best of
care to the hens that eggs 0e obtained
in winter.
There Is no advantage in having young
ducks, geese or turkeys too early in the
season, as they will not thrive as we'll as
when hatched in April or later. A good
start in dry weather will enable them to
grow rapidly and entail less labor, while
dampness is fatal.
A few boxes in the house filled with
earth, anh planted to tomatoes, lettuce
or cabbage, will be found cheap mode
of sec urng early plants. Now is the
time to begin, as they will not grow too
rapidly when the seeds have sprouted.
If potted plants be watered around the
roots with limc-watcr the angle worms
will be destroyed in the soil. The caustlc
qualities of the lime-water kill all soft
skinned worms. Only small amount of
the lime e-water is necessary.
Do not be tempted with all the new
novelties offered IN garden seeds, as
some of them are only old varieties with
new names. Before devoting the garden
to any new variety give it test by pro-
curing package of seeds for experiment,
| rs loss from poor seed or an inferior
variety cannot be recovered, Time is an
important factor IN gardening.
Here is the way the large STRAWBERRIES
are produced, Apply heavy dressing
of manure of two parts each Of murate
| of potash and superphOsphate, with one
| part nitrate of soda. Keep the young
| plants clean, water when necessary, and
do not allow single runner to start, as
they should be pinched back. Mulch the
| young plants in the fall, and remove the
mulch early in spring. Then apply
another dressing of fertilizer and clean
the soil by stirring it about an inch
When the young berries are set pinch of
all but the largest. 1t requires work, but
it will pay. a..
To feed an. animal only that quantity
of food necessary to prevent it from los
| ing flesh is a waste OF time. The aim
should be to secure an increase every
day. 1t is of no advantage TO have an
animal pass through the winter and come
out in the spring in the same condition il
was in the fall. The winter is the proper
| time to get the stock fat.